Trending Articles

RSS Feeds

Friends of SOAR

ArtistsBillofRights.org reviews competitions and appeals seeking creative content, listing those that respect your copyrights and highlighting those that don't. Art Matters! publishes calls to artists, and not all of them may be compliant with ABoR's standards. Visit their site to learn more.

This Sunday Only!

October 23rd

1-4pm

I am the featured artist at Cliff Creek Cellars at the Vineyard this month. On Sunday I’ll be doing a free demo of painting with glass enamels in the wine barn. There’s also some of the best wines in Southern Oregon! What’s not to love?

Even if you’ve never done any glass fusing before you can make an 8″ x 8″ fused panel to donate to Flowers of Hope.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$15 buys you a base piece of glass, access to all frits, stringers and scrap glass, hanging hardware and firing. Come in and try your hand at fusing and find out how easy and fun it can be. You’ll also be doing a wonderful thing for a woman going through a tough time.

TRY FUSING!

The same class only you get to keep it! Try fusing and see if you like it! Learn about using frits, stringers and noodles in this easy workshop!
$20
FLOWERS OF HOPE / TRY FUSING! workshops are available during any regularly scheduled Wednesday or Saturday morning 10a-12p Workshop

Learn to use our Colors for Earth paints to create striking backgrounds for your painted, fritted or pieced glass work. It will give your work incredible depth and beauty. All materials and firing included.

$25

Fused Glass Ornaments

November 5th (2 spaces left)

1-4pm

December 3rd (second date)

1-4pm

Snowflakes, poinsettia’s, angels and more. Put them together and we’ll fire them for you. Get in the holiday spirit with this fun project class.

$30 class fee includes a package of holiday glass, high fire wire, patterns and firing. Make as many as you like!

Fused Glass Table Lamps

November 12th
1-4pm

Learn how to make these beautiful, easy fused glass table lamps. Use one of our patterns or make one of your own design.

Fee includes a ceramic lighted base; retail value $35. You will need to purchase a small amount of glass and frit. Firing is included.

$55

Painting With Glass Enamels

November 19th
1-4pm

Learn to paint with glass enamels that actually fire shiny like glass. These enamels can be used on any kind of glass, they have no c.o.e. so can be used on 90, 96 or float glass. Use these enamels to step up your frit painting or to create any beautiful image you can imagine.

Mini class includes one 6″ x 6″ clear, and 7 colors of Colors for Earth paint pre-mixed for you. You will learn how to paint these wonderful fall leaves in many combinations. So easy painting on clear glass with your pattern underneath. Anyone can do it! This is a great project to learn on!

$25

Take our “Painted Backgrounds Workshop” to make a backing layer to step up your project.

Need a Kiln? Rent one of ours!

Bring in your fused work and we will fire it for you!

Projects small enough to fit on a 7″ shelf: $ 5.00

One or more projects on a 13″ round shelf: 8.00

Fuse + Slump on 13″ shelf: 12.00

Projects on a 20″ shelf: 11.00

Fused + Slump on a 20″ shelf: 14.00

Long Bubble Squeeze add 3.00

Morning Workshops:

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

One thing I’ve heard over and over again in the studio is “I’m not an artist.” To which I would usually reply, “oh, I think everyone is an artist. You just need to find the right media.” But after more reflection I realize that isn’t quite true either.

Everyone has the potential to be an artist.

Most things in this life don’t come without a little dedication and application on your part too. People don’t go out and become an Olympic athlete overnight. It takes years of training and practice to become the best in their field. So it is true with art!

First, you have to believe that you are an artist or are capable of becoming an artist. Whether you believe you can or that you cannot, it is probably true. Without belief that something is possible it is unlikely to come true.

Second, what do “artists” do that most people do not? I believe they look at things differently. They actually look at things: leaves, trees, the way the light falls on petals. Where is the light coming from? What is causing the shadows? They notice where the veins on the leaves begin and end, where the branches of the veins form. This is just one example. Not every artist paints nature. Some gravitate towards other passions: glass (duh!), fabric, music, dance, theater…it’s all art!

Following your passions will help you find your way. What makes you happy? Researchers say that just the act of making things with our hands creates joy within our spirit. (Whether it is good or not!)

The more you practice, the better you will get. It is inevitable. If you put forth the energy to get better, it will happen.

FLOWERS OF HOPE Workshop

Even if you’ve never done any glass fusing before you can make an 8″ x 8″ fused panel to donate to Flowers of Hope.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$15 buys you a base piece of glass, access to all frits, stringers and scrap glass, hanging hardware and firing. Come in and try your hand at fusing and find out how easy and fun it can be. You’ll also be doing a wonderful thing for a woman going through a tough time.

TRY FUSING!

The same class only you get to keep it! Try fusing and see if you like it! Learn about using frits, stringers and noodles in this easy workshop!
$20
FLOWERS OF HOPE / TRY FUSING! workshops are available during any regularly scheduled Wednesday or Saturday morning 10a-12p Workshop

10a-12pm
Lunch
1-4pm
October 1stLearn to use frit, hand pulled stringers and confetti to quickly add dimension and a painterly quality to your fused glass art.We’ll explore different techniques through 3 small panels, focusing on clouds, trees, water and layering backgrounds. We’ll also address combining colors and picture composition.Find out how easy it is to develop your sketches from photos and other inspiration. These panels can be a great reference guide for future projects.

All frit, confetti, stringers, glass and lunch are included.

Glass fusing: Basics or equivalent is required.

$125

Glass Fusing BasicsTwo Saturday Afternoons October 15th & 22nd 1-4pm Learn one of the fastest growing mediums in glass! In this two week class you’ll complete a 4″ tile and a 8″ fused & slumped plate. Covers firing programs, prepping kiln shelves and ware and much more! If you’re considering getting a kiln or have one that you’d like to understand better, this class is for you! All supplies are included. $85

Need a Kiln? Rent one of ours!

Bring in your fused work and we will fire it for you!

Projects small enough to fit on a 7″ shelf: $ 5.00

One or more projects on a 13″ round shelf: 8.00

Fuse + Slump on 13″ shelf: 12.00

Projects on a 20″ shelf: 11.00

Fused + Slump on a 20″ shelf: 14.00

Long Bubble Squeeze add 3.00

Morning Workshops:

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

Learn to paint with glass enamels that actually fire shiny like glass. These enamels can be used on any kind of glass, they have no c.o.e. so can be used on 90, 96 or float glass. Use these enamels to step up your frit painting or to create any beautiful image you can imagine.

Mini class includes one 6″ x 6″ clear, and 7 colors of Colors for Earth paint pre-mixed for you. You will learn how to paint these wonderful fall leaves in many combinations. So easy painting on clear glass with your pattern underneath. Anyone can do it! This is a great project to learn on!

$25

Take our “Making Your Own Glass Backgrounds” to make a backing layer to step up your project. Coming soon!

Susy sent me a picture of her latest fused work along with an enlightening note of an artist statement:

“My art energy craved a glass expression of geology (which i am fascinated by)… so I made this 8 inch circle of 2 layers of fused glass showing striations of sedimentary soils… uplifted to a diagonal… and a fault line. Skyline, upper half in clear glass, was cut using a Taurus ring saw… in one continuous motion. very exciting, and I breathed all the way through!!”

Pretty impressive. Thank you for sharing!

Well, the summer is speeding by again and fall is rushing at us. I have spent a lot of time playing with the Colors for Earth paints and have been having a blast with them. They sure open up the realm of possibilities! Either as a stand-alone paint project or a scaled up frit painting.

I am offering some basic classes in painting with glass enamels to share what I’ve learned to do and what not to do! It’s hard to make a mistake because just about everything is fixable. It takes all the worry out of it.

I hope you will sign up for a class and join in on the fun!

Jess

FLOWERS OF HOPE Workshop

Even if you’ve never done any glass fusing before you can make an 8″ x 8″ fused panel to donate to Flowers of Hope.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$15 buys you a base piece of glass, access to all frits, stringers and scrap glass, hanging hardware and firing. Come in and try your hand at fusing and find out how easy and fun it can be. You’ll also be doing a wonderful thing for a woman going through a tough time.

TRY FUSING!

The same class only you get to keep it! Try fusing and see if you like it! Learn about using frits, stringers and noodles in this easy workshop!
$20
FLOWERS OF HOPE / TRY FUSING! workshops are available during any regularly scheduled Wednesday or Saturday morning 10a-12p Workshop

Learn to paint with glass enamels that actually fire shiny like glass. These enamels can be used on any kind of glass, they have no c.o.e. so can be used on 90, 96 or float glass. Use these enamels to step up your frit painting or to create any beautiful image you can imagine.

Mini class includes one 6″ x 6″ clear, one 6″ x 6″ opal art and 8 colors of pre-mixed paint. You have the option to outline with the black outliner and color as easy as a coloring book or just paint over the pattern. Totally fun and easy! The “Dragonfly” is the pattern of this workshop.

$35

Painting with Glass Enamels: Step it Up!
September 17th 1-4pm
or
October 29th

This class is much the same as the mini class with an upgrade to two 8″ clear sheets and 10 premixed paints. You will learn to create your own backgrounds on the second sheet by mixing and blending enamels. The “Frog and Lilly Pads” is the project for this class.

$45

Glass Fusing BasicsTwo Saturday Afternoons October 15th & 22nd 1-4pm

Learn one of the fastest growing mediums in glass! In this two week class you’ll complete a 4″ tile and a 8″ fused & slumped plate. Covers firing programs, prepping kiln shelves and ware and much more! If you’re considering getting a kiln or have one that you’d like to understand better, this class is for you!

All supplies are included. $85

Painting with Frit

10a-12pm
Lunch
1-4pm
October 1st

Learn to use frit, hand pulled stringers and confetti to quickly add dimension and a painterly quality to your fused glass art.

We’ll explore different techniques through 3 small panels, focusing on clouds, trees, water and layering backgrounds. We’ll also address combining colors and picture composition.

Find out how easy it is to develop your sketches from photos and other inspiration. These panels can be a great reference guide for future projects.

All frit, confetti, stringers, glass and lunch are included.

Glass fusing: Basics or equivalent is required.

$125

Need a Kiln? Rent one of ours!

Bring in your fused work and we will fire it for you!

Projects small enough to fit on a 7″ shelf: $ 5.00

One or more projects on a 13″ round shelf: 8.00

Fuse + Slump on 13″ shelf: 12.00

Projects on a 20″ shelf: 11.00

Fused + Slump on a 20″ shelf: 14.00

Long Bubble Squeeze add 3.00

Morning Workshops:

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

It’s been very busy around here with a show at Valley View Vineyard, Taste of Summer, “Celebrate” at Art Presence, the awesomely successful yard sale, and a couple of fun commissions.

One commission was for Westminster Presbyterian Church here in Medford. They wanted two large bowls for the baptismal font in their church. Pastor Barnabas Sprinkle met with me and liked the colors in a set of coasters I had made….and we went from there.

Another adventure I got involved with this year is doing a piece for the Oregon Wine Experience “Art on the Wall”. Proceeds go to benefit Children’s Miracle Network. Canvases are given out to local artists and then auctioned off at the event. I haven’t really painted with acrylics in over 20 years but I made a fused glass tile for the center of the canvas then painted the border. Rules say it can be any kind of art as long as it’s attached to the canvas.

So, yes I know, summer is a busy time.
I have some great ideas for classes
and workshops coming up soon!

You can still come in and make Flowers of Hope panels,
Try Fusing!
or other projects during our

Wednesday and Saturday workshops
from10-12N.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER

IT’S GOING FAST!

It is that time of year when we schedule fewer classes. Summer is such a busy time. I know, it’s hard to fit it all in. It goes so fast! It is also a time when I have the opportunity to go out and promote our glass studio so that we can continue to bring you new classes and techniques.

We will continue to do our Flowers of Hope, Try Fusing! (OUR NEW PAINTING WORKSHOPS!) and open workshops on most regularly scheduled days. You can always go to the website to see if there is a workshop scheduled. If we have special events they will be listed.

Most of our easier classes such as Dichroic Jewelry, Table Lamps, Cabinet Knobs and Fused Glass Switchplates can be scheduled during workshop time as well as the dragonfly, butterfly and daisy dish casting forms. Please email or call for availability.

FLOWERS OF HOPE Workshop

Even if you’ve never done any glass fusing before you can make an 8″ x 8″ fused panel to donate to Flowers of Hope.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$15 buys you a base piece of glass, access to all frits, stringers and scrap glass, hanging hardware and firing. Come in and try your hand at fusing and find out how easy and fun it can be. You’ll also be doing a wonderful thing for a woman going through a tough time.

TRY FUSING!

The same class only you get to keep it! Try fusing and see if you like it! Learn about using frits, stringers and noodles in this easy workshop!
$20
FLOWERS OF HOPE / TRY FUSING! workshops are available during any regularly scheduled Wednesday or Saturday morning 10a-12p Workshop

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

By Art Presence, 178 contributed posts
View all Art Presence's posts.About the author: Founded by artist Anne Brooke, Art Presence is an art organization operating as a non-profit under the Arts Council of Southern Oregon. We've grown from a small group of Jacksonville artists with our board meeting at the GoodBean Cafe to over 100 artists with an art center and gallery in the historic core of our charming town. Our mission is to encourage and develop a growing art presence in the city of Jacksonville, to provide venues for artists which will enhance their work and encourage patronage, to work with the merchants of Jacksonville to promote a variety of outstanding events and displays to draw visitors downtown, to inspire and educate and provide additional beauty to our city. For contact information and web links, please visit our listing at the Southern Oregon Artists Resource

This year’s Flowers of Hope Reception takes place at Art Presence Art Center. So you can see all of the panels made this year, the gallery will host a display from Sept 23-25th. Join us for the Artist’s Reception on Saturday, September 24th from 1-4pm. We invite everyone to join us! Refreshments will be served, and we invite guests to vote for their favorite panel. The creator of the panel with the most votes wins a $50 gift certificate to LightGarden Glass Art.

About Flowers of Hope

The Flowers of Hope program provides the venue, equipment and supplies for local artists to make 8” x 8” glass panels at a nominal fee of $15. Then LightGarden Glass Art gives these glass panels, decorated with flower art, to women with breast cancer. LightGarden Glass Art collects these panels all year long, puts them on display at an Artist’s Reception, then delivers them to Women’s Imaging at Asante Medical Center. Women with breast cancer have the opportunity to pick a panel of their choice from the panels on display at the Imaging Center before they go into surgery. We hope that creating these panels brings joy and hope to these women who so desperately need some comfort.

This is our 11th year and we have collected over 800 panels for this great cause! Learn more about how you can get involved HERE.

It is getting to be that time of year when we schedule fewer classes. Summer is such a busy time. I know, it’s hard to fit it all in. It goes so fast! It is also a time when I have the opportunity to go out and promote our glass studio so that we can continue to bring you new classes and techniques.

We will continue to do our Flowers of Hope, Try Fusing! (OUR NEW PAINTING WORKSHOPS!) and open workshops on most regularly scheduled days. You can always go to the website to see if there is a workshop scheduled. If we have special events they will be listed.

Most of our easier classes such as Dichroic Jewelry, Table Lamps, Cabinet Knobs and Fused Glass Switchplates can be scheduled during workshop time as well as the dragonfly, butterfly and daisy dish casting forms. Please email or call for availability.

FLOWERS OF HOPE Workshop

Even if you’ve never done any glass fusing before you can make an 8″ x 8″ fused panel to donate to Flowers of Hope.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$15 buys you a base piece of glass, access to all frits, stringers and scrap glass, hanging hardware and firing. Come in and try your hand at fusing and find out how easy and fun it can be. You’ll also be doing a wonderful thing for a woman going through a tough time.

TRY FUSING!

The same class only you get to keep it! Try fusing and see if you like it! Learn about using frits, stringers and noodles in this easy workshop!
$20
FLOWERS OF HOPE / TRY FUSING! workshops are available during any regularly scheduled Wednesday or Saturday morning 10a-12p Workshop

Morning Workshops:

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

Glass Sale!

We’ve been having so much fun with these fun casting forms! Sign up today to reserve your space.

You can include wire to hang as a sun catcher or

add them as decoration to your next fusing project.

1 large butterfly $14

2 dragonflies $14

2 small butterflies $10

Use access to our “wall of frit” to color them

any way you wish.

Covers frit, class and firing. Wires are included to hang or add them to another fusing or mosaic project!

Any regularly scheduled workshop.

Wednesday & Saturdays 10-12n.

Email or call to reserve your form!

Glass Fusing: Basics

Learn one of the fastest growing mediums in glass! In this two week class you’ll complete a 4″ tile and an 8″ fused & slumped plate. Covers firing programs, volume control, prepping kiln shelves and ware and much more!

All glass and supplies are included.
$85

February 27 & March 5th

Please call or email to reserve your space.

Painting with Frit

Learn to use frit, hand pulled stringers and scrap glass to quickly add dimension and a painterly quality to your fused glass art. We’ll explore different techniques through 3 small panels, focusing on clouds, trees, water and layering backgrounds. We’ll also address combining colors and picture composition.

Find out how easy it is to develop your sketches from photos and other inspiration. These panels can be a great reference guide for future projects.

All frit, scrap glass, stringers, and lunch from Peruvian Point is included.

Glass fusing: Basics or equivalent is required.

March 19th

10-3pm with an hour lunch break

$125

Is there a class listed on our website that you would like to take that isn’t scheduled yet? Send me an email and let me know. That’s how I know when to schedule our classes. If you have 5-6 people we can schedule private parties.

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.

I hear this all the time from people in class…and then they go on to tell me that they make exquisite quilts or are a master chef. Everyone is artistic in some way. Just because you don’t paint with a brush or can’t draw a straight line…(that’s what they make rulers for)…everyone can create something.

First, you have to

BELIEVE

that you can.

We get so busy in our daily lives we forget

that we should also be having fun.

There are many studies that strongly suggest that making things with your hands actually creates joy, inner peace and well being. This is why we do more and enjoy less. We don’t allow ourselves time to create. Fast food, cell phones, television, modern technology has edged a lot of the creativity out of our lives. Anything that is worthwhile takes some investment of time.

You don’t just start out being great.

You have to practice to be great.

It’s a brand New Year!

What will YOU practice this year?

Project of the Month!

For the month of February we are adding two different butterfly casting options to the project.

1 large butterfly $14

2 dragonflies $14

2 small butterflies $10

Use access to our “wall of frit” to color them

any way you wish.

Covers frit, class and firing. Wires are included to hang or add them to another fusing or mosaic project!

Any regularly scheduled workshop.

Wednesday & Saturdays 10-12n.

Email or call to reserve your form!

Make a fun project for your spring garden! Learn speedy ways to make lots of tiles from your scrap glass, several techniques for applying mosaics to different surfaces and complete a 10″ bird bath/feeder. Once you finish this class you’ll know how to mosaic almost anything. Several patterns to choose from.

The $75 fee includes all materials and tools.

All you provide is the glass.

February 13 & 20th

1-4pm

Glass Fusing: Basics

Learn one of the fastest growing mediums in glass! In this two week class you’ll complete a 4″ tile and an 8″ fused & slumped plate. Covers firing programs, prepping kiln shelves and ware and much more!

All supplies are included.
$85

February 27 & March 5th

Please call or email to reserve your space.

Painting with Frit

Learn to use frit, hand pulled stringers and scrap glass to quickly add dimension and a painterly quality to your fused glass art. We’ll explore different techniques through 3 small panels, focusing on clouds, trees, water and layering backgrounds. We’ll also address combining colors and picture composition.

Find out how easy it is to develop your sketches from photos and other inspiration. These panels can be a great reference guide for future projects.

All frit, scrap glass, stringers, and lunch from Peruvian Point is included.

Glass fusing: Basics or equivalent is required.

March 19th

10-3pm with an hour lunch break

$125

Is there a class listed on our website that you would like to take that isn’t scheduled yet? Send me an email and let me know. That’s how I know when to schedule our classes. If you have

Come join our morning workshops on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10a – Noon. Use our tools and workshop space. $10 for 2 hours! Call to reserve your space. You can do a Flowers of Hope panel during any of our workshops…or a “Try Fusing” panel to get you started in fusing. You can also schedule bigger projects. Contact us for more information.